BIG 12 HONORS: Graham, Self take home honors

Kansas’ Devonte Graham was chosen player of the year and Bill Self was chosen co-Big 12 coach of the year Sunday by the conference, sharing that honor with Texas Tech’s Chris Beard.

Graham took the honor over Oklahoma guard Trae Young, who leads the nation in points and assists per game. Graham averaged 18.7 points and 7.0 assists in conference play while averaging 39 minutes per game.

“I am so happy for Devonte. It’s well deserved,” Self said. “He’s played as big a role on this team I believe as any player that we’ve had since we’ve been here, on any team. Everyone inside the program knows it goes far past statistics. We’re really happy for him.”

Self, meanwhile, helped KU to a 14th consecutive regular-season conference title with a 13-5 league mark. He did that also while changing up his team’s style in response to a lack of depth and following the departure of forward Billy Preston.

The Big 12 released the all-league awards Sunday, which are determined by a vote of the league’s coaches. KU’s Malik Newman was selected as the conference’s newcomer of the year, while Kansas State’s Dean Wade earned first-team honors.

The Jayhawks’ other three starters received distinction as well; Svi Mykhailiuk was placed on the second team, Udoka Azubuike was on third team and Lagerald Vick was honorable mention. In addition to Wade, K-State’s Barry Brown earned second-team honors and was named to the conference’s all-defensive team.

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All-Big 12 coaches’ honors

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Player of the year: Devonte Graham, Kansas

Freshman of the year: Trae Young, Oklahoma

Newcomer of the year: Malik Newman, Kansas

Coach of the year: Bill Self, Kansas, and Chris Beard, Texas Tech

Sixth man of the year: Terry Maston, Baylor

Defensive player of the year: Jevon Carter, West Virginia

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All-Big 12 first team

Devonte Graham, Kansas

Keenan Evans, Texas Tech

Trae Young, Oklahoma

Jevon Carter, West Virginia

Dean Wade, Kansas State

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All-Big 12 second team

Mohamed Bamba, Texas

Svi Mykhailiuk, Kansas

Barry Brown, Kansas State

Kenrich Williams, TCU

Manu Lecomte, Baylor

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All-Big 12 third team

Sagaba Konate, West Virginia

Vladimir Brodziansky, TCU

Udoka Azubuike, Kansas

Jeffrey Carroll, Oklahoma State

Jo Lual-Acuil, Baylor

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All-Big 12 defensive team

Jevon Carter, West Virginia

Mohamed Bamba, Texas

Sagaba Konate, West Virginia

Barry Brown, Kansas State

Zhaire Smith, Texas Tech

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All-Big 12 newcomer team

Trae Young, Oklahoma

Mohamed Bamba, Texas

Lindell Wigginton, Iowa State

Malik Newman, Kansas

Zhaire Smith, Texas Tech

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All-Big 12 honorable mention

Cameron Lard, Iowa State

Donovan Jackson, Iowa State

Lindell Wigginton, Iowa State

Lagerald Vick, Kansas

Matt Coleman, Texas

Dylan Osetkowski, Texas

Kerwin Roach, Texas

Zhaire Smith, Texas Tech

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(c)2018 The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Mo.)

Visit The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Mo.) at www.kansascity.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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